Wilder v. Thomas

659 F. Supp. 1500, 26 ERC 1550, 17 Envtl. L. Rep. (Envtl. Law Inst.) 20978, 26 ERC (BNA) 1550, 1987 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5132
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. New York
DecidedMay 13, 1987
DocketNo. 85 Civ. 8356
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 659 F. Supp. 1500 (Wilder v. Thomas) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Wilder v. Thomas, 659 F. Supp. 1500, 26 ERC 1550, 17 Envtl. L. Rep. (Envtl. Law Inst.) 20978, 26 ERC (BNA) 1550, 1987 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5132 (S.D.N.Y. 1987).

Opinion

OPINION

GRIESA, District Judge.

This is an action arising out of the proposed 42nd Street Development Project. It is brought under the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 7401, et seq., specifically under the so-called “citizen suit provision” of the Act, 42 U.S.C. § 7604(a)(1).

Plaintiffs are individuals who live and work in the project area. A tenant’s association is also named as a plaintiff. Defendants are various state and local agencies and officials involved with the Project. Originally plaintiffs sued certain federal defendants, but the claims against them have been withdrawn.

The original complaint was dismissed on June 26, 1986 for failure to state a valid claim. The court granted leave to amend, specifying what must be contained in an amended pleading. Plaintiffs then circulated a proposed amended complaint. Defendants objected, claiming that it was again inadequate. Plaintiffs have now briefed their motion to file the amended complaint, and defendants have briefed their opposition.

Although leave to amend should be granted freely, see Fed.R.Civ.P. 15(a), a court may refuse to grant leave to refile where it is clear that the amended complaint, if filed, would be dismissed. Foman v. Davis, 371 U.S. 178, 182, 83 S.Ct. 227, 230, 9 L.Ed.2d 222 (1962); M & T Chemicals, Inc. v. International Business Machines Corp., 403 F.Supp. 1145, 1147 (S.D.N.Y.1975), aff'd, 542 F.2d 1165 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 429 U.S. 1030, 97 S.Ct. 656, 50 L.Ed.2d 637 (1976).

Normally, on a motion such as the present one, the question would be the legal sufficiency of the amended complaint on its face. Here, however, both sides have referred to certain matters outside the complaint, and it is obvious that these matters must be considered in order to dispose of the present motion. Both sides agree on what is properly before the court.

THE COMPLAINT

The complaint alleges that the New York State Urban Development Corporation (“UDC”) is a corporate governmental agency created under New York law and that UDC intends to construct the Project through a subsidiary (par. 11). It is alleged that UDC, in cooperation with City agencies, has prepared a plan covering 13 acres north and south of 42nd Street between Broadway and Eighth Avenue, and that the Project, if built, will fundamentally change the character of the area, increasing the level of commercial activity and the level of vehicular traffic (par. 17). The complaint alleges that these changes will significantly increase the emissions of carbon monoxide, an air contaminant regulated under the Clean Air Act (par. 18). Pursuant to the requirements of the State Environmental Quality Review Act (“SEQRA”), N.Y. Envtl. Conserv. Law §§ 8-0101, et seq. (McKinney 1984), UDC prepared an Environmental Impact Statement (“EIS”) addressing traffic, air pollution and other impacts of the Project (par. 19). Following the preparation of the EIS, the Project was approved on October 4, 1984 (par. 65). It is alleged that other projects have been developed or are planned in the area, including the Javits Convention Center, and that the combined effect of these projects will lead to environmental problems (par. 20).

[1503]*1503The complaint refers to the fact that, pursuant to the Clean Air Act, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) has established national primary ambient air quality standards for carbon monoxide. The standard relevant to the present case is the requirement that concentration of carbon monoxide in the air shall not exceed a level of 9 parts per million (“9 ppm”) over an 8-hour period more than once a year, on and after December 31, 1987 (par. 21). The complaint further refers to the statutory requirement that each state must adopt a state implementation plan, or “SIP,” which is to provide for implementation and enforcement of the established air quality standards (par. 22). 42 U.S.C. § 7410(a)(1). The SIP must include

emission limitations, schedules, and timetables for compliance with such limitations, and such other measures as may be necessary to insure attainment and maintenance [of the air quality standards].

Id. at § 7410(a)(2)(B).

New York State has a SIP, which has been submitted in various stages. A revision dated January 1984 was approved by the EPA on June 17, 1985 (par. 23).

The complaint (par. 24) quotes the citizen suit provision of the Clean Air Act, that

any person may commence a civil action on his own behalf ... (1) against any person ... who is alleged to be in violation of (A) an emission standard or limitation under [the Act]____

42 U.S.C. § 7604(a)(1).

The complaint further quotes the definition of “emission standard or limitation” relied upon by plaintiffs:

(3) ... any condition or requirement under an applicable implementation plan relating to transportation control measures, air quality maintenance plans, vehicle inspection and maintenance programs or vapor recovery requirements ____

Id. at § 7604(f).

The complaint notes the requirement of 42 U.S.C. § 7604(b)(1) that 60 days notice must be given to the EPA and others of the alleged violations prior to bringing suit, and states that such notice was given by letter of February 8, 1985 (par. 25).

The complaint then sets forth six claims for relief. The first claim bears the title “Failure to eliminate carbon monoxide ‘hot spots’ caused by the Project by 1987.” The first claim refers to the definition of “hot spot” in the SIP as any location with a potential to violate the carbon monoxide standard. The complaint notes that the SIP identifies certain hot spots in the vicinity of the Project and indicates that new hot spots may appear as conditions change or data improve (par. 27). The complaint alleges that it is a “condition or requirement” of the SIP that all carbon monoxide hot spots are to be eliminated by December 31, 1987, referring to the January 1984 SIP, p. 3-21, § 3.5.3 (comp. par. 28). It is further alleged that construction of the Project will “assure the continued existence” of hot spots in the Project area after the deadline of December 31,1987 (par. 30). It is said that this will occur during construction of the Project, and also after completion of the Project because mitigation measures proposed by defendant UDC for the Project are not effective to eliminate hot spots in the project area (pars. 29-30). The various defendants are alleged to be responsible for this non-compliance with the SIP requirement of eliminating carbon monoxide hot spots by the end of 1987 (pars. 31-35).

The second claim for relief is given the title

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659 F. Supp. 1500, 26 ERC 1550, 17 Envtl. L. Rep. (Envtl. Law Inst.) 20978, 26 ERC (BNA) 1550, 1987 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5132, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/wilder-v-thomas-nysd-1987.